Journal box



Oct; 11, 1932. I BAR.RQWS 1,882,057

JOURNAL BOX Filed March 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 11, 1932. D. s. BARROWS JOURNAL BOX Filed March 28, 4925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lIIl/ Patented Get. 11, 1932 stares fnoimrn s. nennows, or aoennsrna, NEW YonK, Assrenon TO TEE SYMHTGTQH corrrerrr, ornnwroan, n; Y A ooaronerron or MARYLAND JOURNAL Box Application filed March 28, 1925. Serial No. 18,993.

erally considered, is the provision of what may be designated as an articulated lid con struction in which foreign matter is eihciently excluded from the journal box and in" which manual means are provided for energizing and deenergizing the operatingspring of the lid.

An object of my invention is the provision of a journal box lid with a spring retainer articulated with respect thereto and provided with a flange or hood portion adapted tooverlie the upper edge of the lid to eflicientlyen elude dirt and other foreign matter from-the journal box.

Another object of my invention is the -provision of a journal boxlid with a spring retainer therefor, said retainer beingprovided with'a-cani surface thereon for engaging an intermediate portion of the spring and gradually stressing .or "energizing it to the desired degree.

A further objectlot my invention is the provision of a springsactuated lid for journal boxes with a spring retainer formed with a relatively long operating arm whereby the spring may be conveniently stressed to the desired degree by hand without resorting to auxiliary apparatus.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of an articulated journal box lid comprising a lid proper, a spring retainer, and a. pintle for pivotally connecting said members, a portion of said pintle being shaped for non-rotative engagement with a portion of the spring retainer whereby when the lid and spring retainer aremoved normally as a'unit, the pintle does not rotate with respect thereto. Other objects and advantages of the invention, relating to the various elements and combinations thereof,

' will become apparent as the description proceeds, r

In the drawingsillustratingmy invention, the scope whereof is pointed out'in the claims:

Figure 1 is a frontelevational view of a portion of the lid, showing the parts in assembled IGlltlOIl.

1'1gure2 1s a cross-sectlonal view on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

*Figure 3 is a sectional view onthe line 33 of Figure" 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a side 'elevational view of a portion of the lid and spring retainer adjacent the pivotal member, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a front elevational- View of a modified fornr'of lid and spring retainer therefor. t

Figure 6' is a cross-sectional view on'the line 6-6 of Figure 5, looking in the direction ofthe arrows. i 7 Throughout the specification and drawings, like parts are designated by like reterence characters.

, Referring first'to the construction illus trated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, a journal boX is desi natedby the reference character 1.' Said box is preferably of the standard A. R. A. construction and has on its upper surface 2 and adjacent the forward edge thereof, a hinge lug 8, which is'perforated at 4, for the passage of a hinge bolt or pintle 5 therethrough; This lug is provided at its front and top with flat faces 6. and 7, respectively, for cooperation with a springpressed portion carried by the lid 8 for boldin g the same in either open or closed position.

The lid or closure member 8 is preferably formed of pressed metal and is provided with loops or ears 9 and 10 surrounding the ends of the pintle- '5, whereby the same is maintained in hinged relation with respect to the journal box. Both loops 9 and 10 are preterably provided with apertures, elongated transversely with respect to the lid, as shown inFiguresQ and i, so as to allow some play to insure the accurate seating of the lid on the journal box. The spring retainer 11, whichis a part ofthe lid assembly, is formed with cooperating ear or loop portions 12 and 13 alsosurrounding the-pintle 5 for pivotally connecting said retainer with the journal box and also with respect to the lid 8. w

A spring 14 is provided between the retainer 11 and the lid whereby the same is maintained in stressed or energized position; As illustrated, said spring preferably comprises a plurality of coiled portions 15 and 16 joined by a relatively straight portion 17 forming, in effect, the top endof the spring, upon which is preferably mounted '-a roller or other anti-friction device 18 which engages the hinge lug 3 and alternately presses against the faces 6 and 7 thereofwhen' in closed and open positions,respectively. The ends of the spring 14 preferably extend downwardly where they are bent towards each other at 19 and 20 and.--retained in pivotal relation, with respect to the lid 8, by means of a. clamping plate 21 preferably attached to the lid 8 by means of arivet'22- I When the spring member 14 isfree, as

when the spring retainer 11* is moved away from the lid 8, the roller 18(exerts no pressure on the hinge lug 3 and does not function to hold the 'lid inthe desired-relation" with respect to the journal box. When, how-v the lid so as to provide sufficient leverage forconveniently operating the spring retainer, by hand, to theposition shown in Figure 2, without the necessity of resorting to auxiliary means. Theoperating lover or arm 25, however, may be perforatedat 26 and 27, so

that if desired, an operating bar may be in serted to more conveniently move said spring retainer to or from the position shown in Figure 2 to respectively energize or deenergize the spring 14. The lid 8 desirably has an inwardly embossed portion providing an out- I Wardly openingpocket into which the lower portion of the lever 25 extends, thereby avoiding any undue projection thereof, beyond the outer face of the lid.

- In order to maintain the pintle or hinge pin 5 in the same position with respect to the lid 8 and spring retainer 11,"when in normal operation, the pintle 5 is preferably formed with a flattened or non-circular end 28 which engages a corresponding loop 12 on the spring retainer. In this way the pintle may be longitudinally moved with respect to the sprlng retainer and lid but is prevented from pivotal motion with respectto said retainer by the non-rotative association with the hinge lug or loop 12 of the spring retainer.

The ear or loop 9 of the lid is formed, asshown, larger than the ear or loop 10 so that the pintle 5 may be positioned by inserting it from left to right, small end first, and'locking itinplace by bending a tab "30 to the position shown in Fig 1, where it closies' th'e outer end of the 1001') 9. If the tab '30 on the loop 10 becomes broken off the gpintle 5 maybe looked inplace bymeans ofa cotter or other locking device inserted through an aperture 30* in the circular end thereof. The ear or loop '9 of the lid 8, although not necessarily circular, is formed of such a size, as

shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, that the flattened or non-circular end 28 of the pintle 5 may be rotated with respect thereto.

The side edges of the lid 8 are preferably formed with downwardly extending flanges 81 and 32 and the lower edge thereof is preferably formed with a lip 33 for conveniently opening and closing. said lid. If formed of pressed metal,the lid-is preferably corrin gated, as shown, for rigidifying'the same.

The upper portion of thespring retainer 11 is preferably rearwardly extended, as shown in Figure 2, forming a flanged or hooded portion 34 which overlies and houses the roller member 18, the upper edge of the lid 8 and the lug 3 for excluding dirt, water and-other foreign matter from the journal box.= The rearward edge of this flange or hood 34is preferably reinforced by means of a rib 35 which also serves for draining water both ways from the flange 34. I When assembled as shown in these figures, the construction of the various parts is such that an operator may open the lid by graspingeither thelip '33 or the spring retainer 11 'atth'e end of the operating arm 25 thereotj That is, the force required to move the springretainer with respect to the lid is greater than that required to move the lid with respect to p the journal box,'as will beunderstoodr In Figures 5 and 6, amodification of my invention is illustrated, in which a lid 8 is shown pivotally connected with respect to the journal box by means of a pintle 5 which is of similar construction to that described. in connection with Figures -1 to 4, inclusive. The

spring retainer 11*, however, although piv-v otally connected with respect to the journal box and lid 8 in a manner similar to that heretofore described, is otherwise different in the following respects. I

It is not normally adapted for pivotal tion with respect to the lid 8 when the pintle 5 is in place because it is then held in fixed relation with respect to said lidby means; of a clamping plate 21 preferably secured to said lid by a rivet 22*. This is effected by' the provision of a'flange or hoolr36 on the spring retainer which is inserted beneath the plate 21 before the pintle or hinge pin 5' is put in place. The spring 14* is, in this modific'ation, formed as heretofore, with a plu rality of 'coiled portion's'15 and 16, a relatively straight connecting portion 17*, however, being provided with a wear plate'18 instead ofa roller, in accordance with the first modification.

Theends of the spring are only continued downwardly a short distance and are there engaged in'pockets 37 and 38 in the spring retainer 11, rather than as heretofore being clamped to the lid. When in operating position, the spring 14 is held between pocket 24 on the spring retainer and extends, in the pocket 39 in the lid 8 The operation of stressing or energizing the spring 14 is somewhat diflerent from that described in connection with that of the first modification, in that it is necessary to insert the spring in position between the lid and spring retainer before the pintle or pivot pin is put in place, but with the hook 36 on the spring retainer engaging beneath the clamp ing plate 21*, as shown in Figure 6. The upper end of the spring retainer l1 is then forced to position, as shown in Figure 6', thereby energizing or stressing the spring 14 to the desired degree.

Although this operation of stressing the spring may be effected by manually pressing at the top of the spring retainer, yet, if desired, a lever or bar may be inserted in the aperture 27 and serve for the more convenient stressing of the spring. A lower aperture 26 is also preferably provided in the spring retainer for lightening the weight thereof.

lVhen in proper relation with respect to the hinge lug 3 and aperture 4 therein, the pintle 5 is then inserted through the loops 9 and 12*, aperture 4, and the loops 13 and in succession, when said pintle 5 may be maintained in position by a tab 30, as in the first modification, or by a cotter or the like inserted through aperture 80* in the .end thereof.

Except as specifically described in connection with Figures 5 and 6, the modification here illustrated is substantially the same as that shown in Figuresl to 4, inclusive, a hood portion 34 being provided, as in said first modification. A lug or reinforcement 40 may, however, be provided upon the front face of the hooded portion for reinforcing the same and acting as an abutment for an operating rod or bar in case such is used for stressing the spring member.

By virtue of the foregoing construction, it will be clear that I have provided a springactuated articulated lid construction which is readily operated by hand for energizing and deenergizing the spring and which is provided with a flanged or hooded portion acting to efficiently exclude dirt and other foreign material from the ournal box.

A pintle or hinge pin is provided which is normally retained in fixed relation with retermediate portion.

spect to the lid, whereby undesired wear therebetween is avoided. The spring pressure, tending to force the lid into operative engagement with the journal box, is exerted substantially centrally with respect tosaid lid and tween said spring and lid and betweensaid lid and journal box, so that a tight engagement will be effected between all edges of the lid and thejournal box. I

Having now described my invention, what i I claim is:. v

1. In combination, a-journal box havinga hinge lug, a lid pivotally connected thereto, a spring retainer articulated with respectto said lid, a spring'positioned between-said lid and retainer,- engaging the lug and lid respectively at its upper and lower portions, means on said retainer engaging an :intermediate portion of said spring for gradually tensioning and holding said spring stressed in position upon movement'of said retainer toward the lid, and aportion of said retainer tension for manually swinging the same relative to the lid for energizing and deenergizing said spring, and an angularly extending portion overlying the top edge ofthejlid.

3. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug thereon, a lid with retaining loops thereon, a spring retainer with cooperating loops, a hinge pintle extending through'the journal box lug and the loops on'thelid and retainer for connecting said members, said pintle and one of theloops on the retainer being formed to permit longitudinal, but prevent pivotal, motion therebetween and a spring positioned between said retainer and lid, engaging'said lid andlug at opposite I 1\ provision is made for allowing angling be- L ends and engaged by said retainer at an in- 4. In combination, a ournal box havinga vhinge lug thereon, a lid with retaining loops thereon, a spring retainer with cooperating loops, ahinge pintle extending through the journal box lug and the loops on the lid and retainer for connecting said members, said pintle'and one of the loops on the retainer being formed to permit longitudinal, but I prevent pivotal, motion therebetween, and a spring held in stressed position between'said retainer and lid, engaged by said retainer at an'intermediate portion and provided with means at one end engaging the hinge-lugto hold the lid in either open or closedposition,

-. the other endof said spring being connected Y 'to'said lid. 1

pintle maybe longitudinally inserted in place and willlth'e'n be prevented from turning with respect to'said'retainer anda spring positioned between said retainer and lid, engagingsaid lid'and lug atopposite ends and engaged by said retainer at an intermediate portion. V

6. In oombinatioma journal box'having a hinge lugthereon, a lid with retaining loops thereon, a spring'retainer with cooperating loops, a hinge pintle extending through the journalbox lug'and the loops on the lid and retainer for pivotally connecting said members, said pintle being formed with a noncircular portion engaging one of the retainer loops of corresponding shape so that the pintle may be longitudinally inserted in place and will then be prevented from turning with respect to-said retainer, and spring means heldinenergized position between retainer and lid, an end portion thereof alternately engaging dili'erent faces on the hinge lug to hold the lid-in open or closed position, the

other end engaging said lid while an intermediate portion is engaged and held in stressed position by acorrespon-ding portion of said retainer.

7. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug thereon, a lid with cooperating hinge loops, a spring retainer likewise pro- :vided with hinge loops, ahinge pintle extending through said hinge lug and all of said hinge loops for pivotally connecting said members, a torsion spring posltioned between saidretainer and lid and formed with a coiled portionengaging the retainer and extensions engaging the lid and h nge lug, respectively, and an extension on said retalner overlying the top edge of saidlid.

8. In combination, a journal'box having ahinge lug thereon, a lid with cooperating hinge loops, a spring retainer likewise provided with hinge loops, a hinge pintle extending through said hinge lug and all of saidhinge loops for pivotally connecting said members, a spring'positioned between said lid and retainer, engaging said lid and lug, adjacent its ends and adapted to be engaged by said retainer intermediate its ends for energizingthe same, and a relatively long operating extension on said retainer whereby saidspringmay be manually energized without difficulty-by grasping said extension-and swinging said retainer toward the lid.

9.,In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug thereon, a lid witl1 .cooperating hinge loops, a spring retainer likewise provided with hinge loops, a hinge pintle extending. through said hinge lug and all of said hinge loops for pivotally connecting said members, spring means positioned between positioned between said lid and retainer, en-

gaging the latter at an intermediate portion thereof, and holding it in closed position, the ends of said spring respectively engaging the lid and hinge lug, and an extension on said retainer overlying the top edge of said lid. 11. In, combination, a journal box, a lid, a springretainer, means pivotally connecting said box, lid and retainer, an extension on said retainer overlying the top edge of said lid, a spring engaging the box and lid at opposite ends and engaged at an intermediate portion and pressed toward said lid by said retainer, and a relatively long extension on said retainer for the manual operation thereof.

12. In combination, a journal box, a lid,

a spring retainer, means pivotally connecting Y said box, lid and retainer,'an operating torsion sprlng energized between saidretainer and lid, by engagement of a cam portlon of said retainer with an intermediate portion of said spring and, when energized, acting to hold saidretainer in closed position with respect to said lid, and an: angularly disposed extension on said retainer, overlying the top edge of said lid.

13. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug,alid pivotally carried thereby, a

spring retainer pivoted for normal swinging 'movement with respect to said lid and provided with an operating arm normally overlying the outer face of'said lid and extending'below the center of said lidto provide a handle'for manual operation, said lid being formed with an inwardly embossed portion providing an outwardlyopening pocket into which the lower portion of said handle extends, a spring positioned between said lid'and retainer and formed with portions exerting pressure on said lugand lid respectively to-hold the lid in'open or closed position, and a cam-element .on said retainer. for engaging said its spring, upon swinging said retainer toward the lid, for gradually stressing and holding it in energized position. 7

14. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a lid pivotally carried thereby, a spring retainer pivotally mounted with respect to said lid, a spring positioned between said lid and retainer, one end of said spring acting on said lug and the other end acting on said lid to hold the lid in open or closed position, and cam means on said retainer for engaging said spring and gradually stressing the same, said cam means having an operating arm, said lid having an inwardly embossed portion receiving the free end of said arm.

15. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a lid assembly carried thereby and comprising a closure member, a spring retainer articulated with respect to said closure member, provided with hinge loops and a torsion spring disposed between said retainer and closure member and formed with coil portions engaged by said retainer, and upper and lower portions respectively engaging the hinge lug and closure member, and a hinge pintle extending through said lug and loops for pivotally connecting the assembly to said lug, said assembly being provided with means overlying said lug and housing the upper portion of the spring.

Intestimony whereof I afix my signature.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

